As a breed of dog, the Boxer is perhaps one of the most popular. This is owing to a variety of reasons, from the dog’s athletic and powerful build to its friendliness to the distinctive look that it sports. Regardless of your reasons for being interested in a Boxer, however, you should know that as with any breed, they have their own particular quirks and needs that you must be ready to deal with as you own and raise your dog. If you give your Boxer the love and care that it requires, you will be rewarded with a truly incredible companion.

What Makes a Boxer So Special

The Boxer is, first and foremost, a very energetic and friendly pet that has a thirst for social interaction and play. The breed is ideal for a family with children, as the Boxer is uniquely suited to forming positive relationships with kids. Indeed, while one might think that the Boxer’s size and strength would make it unsuitable for spending much time with children, the care they take when playing with children of all ages shows just how intelligent and aware the Boxer truly is.

When the Boxer does show a sign of aggression, it is towards strange dogs or dogs that are of the same gender, as in the former case the Boxer is primarily concerned with protecting you and the rest of your family against any possible threats that the strange dog may pose. When it comes to strangers who are human, the Boxer is less apt to show aggression so much as reservation, treating strange humans with suspicion and care while waiting to see whether or not they pose any kind of threat.

A New Best Friend

Once a Boxer’s trust has been earned, however, a big playful friend appears, as the Boxer can occasionally become quite playful and even jump on people if it is not trained from an early age to not do so. Even so, playing is a natural part of the Boxer’s way of living; they are perhaps one of the most fun-loving dogs out there! As such, if you bring a Boxer into your home, you should be prepared to give it part of your time every day to play, whether that means rough-housing, playing fetch, tug-of-war, or any other number of activities that dogs love so much.

Of course, as with any dog – especially a purebred dog – you should educate yourself on the health problems that Boxers may face as they age. Generally speaking, your Boxer will live between eight and ten years, most of which will be quite healthy – this is, after all, a very athletic and active dog! There is, later in life, the chance of colitis, gastric torsion, corneal erosion, and hypothyroidism. Before agreeing to take a Boxer into your home, make sure to get thyroid, hip, and cardiac tests first, to ensure that your heart won’t be broken by illness. If you go into your relationship with your new dog educated and informed, however, you will be rewarded by having one of the best friends a person could ask for!